These Are the Best 3D Printers Under $500

Want to start 3D printing but have a small budget? Well, there are many cheap 3D printers on the market. You can buy 3D printers for less than $200 but obviously, you’ll get the best value with printers around the $500 mark. Here are the best 3D printers under $500 that you can buy.

So, you want to start a 3D printing business? Or are you simply looking for a 3D printer to print your favorite miniatures? You’re in luck.

3D printing has opened up new possibilities in making custom physical objects. With one of the beginner printers below, you can make custom objects that meet your special needs.

However, before getting started, you may be wondering which printer you should get. For instance, will you be going for an FDM (filament) or an SLA (resin) printer?

Filament vs. Resin Printers

But before we start, let’s touch a little on filament and resin.

If you plan to be printing small items with fine details, you should go for a resin 3D printer. In particular, you want a resin 3D printer if you will be printing railroads, miniatures, and other models.

SLA printers (resin printers) produce exceptional quality models. However, they create more mess and smell more. Finally, resin 3D models need careful post-processing and management since the resin can be toxic.

On the other hand, FDM printers (filament printers) are recommended if you will be printing objects for specific functions, rather than display needs.  FDM printers are recommended for printing mountings, brackets, and most practical objects.

FDM printers can also print larger items. These printers are recommended for cosplay costumes, such as greeblies and masks.

Budget is another thing you may be concerned about.

All the printers on this list are low-cost options. If you have a little more to spend, you may want to check these 3D printers that cost less than $1000. Professional 3D printers are more robust and have conveniences such as automatic bed leveling, which makes them easier to use.

Regardless, the 3D printers under 500 dollars that we’ve listed below are great for beginners and will take you further in your 3D printing journey.

This article will help you decide the best 3D printer under 500 dollars that will be ideal for you.

Best 3D Printers Under $500

• 1. Creality Ender 5 Pro

BUY ON AMAZON

The Ender 5 Pro is the improved version of the Ender 5. The Pro version offers everything that the conventional Ender 5 has to offer – including the box-shaped frame – as well as useful upgrades worth around $60.

The Ender 5 Pro is equipped with a new V1.15 Silent Mainboard. The mainboard enables a quieter and more precise printing performance.

There is also a heavy-duty metal extrusion unit, which guarantees a stable supply of the filament. Another useful feature that comes with the new extruder is the improved filament feed. The Ender 5 Pro is equipped with a Capricon Bowden PTFE inlet.

Thanks to this high-end feed and the new feed system, the Creality Ender 5 Pro is better suited for printing both flexible filaments and other exotic materials.

• 2. Anycubic Mega X

BUY ON AMAZON | GEARBEST

Anycubic has taken its iconic i3 Mega and almost tripled its installation space in the Anycubic Mega X.

The Anycubic Mega X is made of metal and is extremely robust. The two X-axis threaded rods and the two Y-axis rails provide additional stability. This leads to overall higher print quality, especially with tall 3D models. The printer also has Anycubics Ultrabase print bed

The Anycubic Mega X is not the cheapest printer in its category. Moreover, it lacks some features, such as WiFi connectivity, automatic bed leveling, and quieter coolers, which would have been nice. However, at less than $500, that would really be asking a lot.

If you are looking for a large 3D printer at a small budget and don’t want to compromise on print quality, the Anycubic Mega X is the perfect choice for you.

RELATED: Anycubic Mega X Review (Full Review)

• 3. Artillery Sidewinder X1

COMPARE PRICE ON AMAZON | GEARBEST | BANGGOOD

The Artillery Sidewinder X1 is a tidy and well-thought-out FDM 3D printer. The gadget has interesting features for its relatively low price.

With a print volume of 300 x 300 x 400 mm, a direct-drive extruder and a Volcano-like hotend, the Sidewinder X1 copes well with more demanding filaments such as TPU. In addition, the printer is quieter than many other printers with closed installation spaces.

Since the first version of the Sidewinder X1, Artillery has implemented many recommendations from the community. For example, the company has replaced the glass print bed with an ultrabase.

The colored, user-friendly touchscreen makes it easy to operate the many features of the printer, such as protection against power failures. In case of power failure, the printer can save its current printing process to continue printing later.

RELATED: Artillery Sidewinder X1 3D Printer (Full Review)

• 4. Flashforge Adventurer 3

COMPARE PRICE ON AMAZON | BH PHOTOVIDEO

If you’re looking for a 3D printer that is easy to use, check the Flashforge Adventurer 3. This printer has a built-in filament cartridge that recognizes the filament and automatically guides it. There is also cloud storage, from where you can manage all of your STL files. Also, there’s a built-in HD camera that allows you to monitor your 3D model while you’re printing.